Putin not arrested by ICC member Mongolia, which could now face prosecution

Human rights campaigners say Mongolia will become an “accomplice” if it fails to arrest Putin, who is wanted for war crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, arrived smoothly in Mongolia for a state visit on Monday.

Under international law, Mongolia — a member of the ICC — is supposed to act upon the court’s warrants. The European Union and Ukraine have both reminded the East Asian nation of this obligation in recent days, but Russian officials have said they have “no worries” about Putin’s visit.

The ICC’s warrant, issued March 2023, accuses Putin of war crimes related to the deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

There is no indication as yet that Mongolia plans to arrest Putin. If it fails to, it will likely face prosecution over its inaction, a legal expert told POLITICO.

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